REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
7:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Belding City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order and led with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle, Linda Curtis and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: None
City Manager Keven Krieger requested the two additions to the agenda under New Business: Add Item E. Leppink’s Skate Park Concrete Quote and Item F. Cemetery Software and Mapping Quote. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Mayor Leary presented Main Street Café with a Good Neighbor Award. (A copy of the certificate is on file in the Clerk’s Office).
B. Corey Turner from Fleis & Vandenbrink gave an update on the WWTP. They did not report last month due to a scheduling conflict. The project remains on track. ( A copy of the report is on file in the Clerk’s Office).
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Consent Agenda is as follows:
A. Approve Independent Bank checks 83708 to 83794 in the amount of $1,407,327.35
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regularly scheduled meeting – July 1, 2025
Zerkle reported that the ZBA has not had any recent meetings.
Gladding reported that the Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on July 29th.
Steele reported that the Rec Board met last night where they received project updates. They also selected an option for expanding the Skate Park which is being recommended for city council approval later in tonight’s meeting.
Curtis reported that the Housing Commission met and conducted regular business along with electing officers and setting their meeting schedule for the year.
Mayor Leary reported that the Museum Board meets next week.
A. Second Reading- Consider additional amendments to Section 2.13. Mayor Leary read the universal building code items that were removed from the ordinance, and read what was added. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to approve the amendments to Section 2.13. Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
YEAS: Gladding, Curtis, Zerkle and Mayor Leary
NAYS: Steele
The Ordinance is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND APPENDIX B, “ZONING” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BELDING BY AMENDING SECTION 2.13 RELATED TO “REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO SINGLE-FAMILY (OUTSIDE MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS) AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS.”
THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS:
Section 1. Amendment of Section 2.13. Section 2.13 of Appendix B, “Zoning” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belding is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 2.13. - Regulations applicable to single-family (outside manufactured home parks) and two-family dwellings.
It is the intent and purpose of this section to establish design review standards and controls over housing development in the City of Belding. It is recognized that there are unique design aspects inherent in the community appearance that need to be preserved and enhanced. The adoption of these criteria will guide and ensure that all future growth enhances community character and image and fits with the unique vernacular of the City of Belding's urban setting. A positive community image enhances economic development opportunity; safeguards property values; curbs blight and deterioration; and enhances public safety and welfare. The following standards shall apply to all single-family or duplex structures erected in the City of Belding.
In the case of a one-family or two-family dwelling unit which is of standard construction, a mobile home, a premanufactured, or a precut dwelling structure, and any additions or alterations thereto, erected or placed in the City of Belding, other than a manufactured home located in a licensed manufactured home park approved under the provisions of chapter 8, RM-2 Manufactured Home Park Districts, shall conform to the following regulations in addition to all other restrictions and requirements of this ordinance:
A. Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum gross floor area of nine hundred sixty (960) square feet. For a structure of two (2) or more stories, a minimum of twelve hundred (1,200) square feet of gross floor area shall be provided with at least six hundred eighty (680) square feet provided on the ground floor.
B. For a home constructed on a corner lot, the front door of the home is required to face (and be parallel to) the principal front lot line. The front door is considered to be the door in the front wall of the building, acting as the principal entrance to the home.
C. Where the home design involves a roof pitch, it shall be at a minimum pitch of 5/12, that is, for every twelve (12) inches of lateral run, the roof shall rise five (5) inches.
D. Siding shall be the same gauge for modular and manufactured homes as for on-site-built homes. The exterior finish of the dwelling unit shall not cause reflection that is greater than that from siding coated with clean, white, gloss exterior enamel.
E. The dwelling unit shall have a minimum horizontal dimension across any front, side, or rear elevation of twenty-four (24) feet.
F. A structure with a front elevation view of over forty (40) linear feet shall have a design offset including but not limited to: bay windows, covered porches, or structural offsets from the principal plane of the building.
G. A minimum of 100 square feet of storage space in the form of an attached garage or a detached accessory building, such as a garage or shed, shall be provided in conjunction with the dwelling unit. Said area shall be calculated separately from the required interior storage space required for the dwelling unit. Accessory buildings constructed for this purpose shall be constructed of conventional materials such as wood, metal, rigid plastics, or similar materials commonly utilized for such buildings and shall be compatible with the dwelling and other dwellings in the vicinity. Buildings constructed from flexible plastic, cloth, tarps, scrap materials, detritus, or generally low-quality materials or those susceptible to damage, decay, infestation, erosion, or those that appear dilapidated are prohibited.
H. Any single-story, residential structure shall not be more than two (2) times wider than its depth (exclusive of an attached garage).
I. Single and two-family dwellings shall be oriented toward the front lot line or primary front lot line, if applicable. Building orientation shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator based on the location of the principal building entrance; the placement, orientation, and arrangement of porches, windows, and doors; the location of the driveway serving the property, the property address, and other applicable factors.
J. The dwelling unit shall be firmly attached to a permanent continuous foundation constructed on the building site, such foundation to have a wall of the same perimeter dimensions as the dwelling unit and to be constructed of such materials and type as required by the building code for on-site constructed single-family dwellings. If the dwelling unit is a manufactured home, its foundation shall fully enclose the chassis, undercarriage and towing mechanism.
K. If the dwelling unit is a manufactured home, it shall be installed pursuant to the manufacturer's setup instructions and shall be secured to the building site by an anchoring system or device complying with the rules and regulations, as amended, of the Michigan mobile home commission, or any similar or successor agency having regulatory responsibility for manufactured home parks.
L. If the dwelling unit is a manufactured home, it shall be installed with the wheels removed. No dwelling unit shall have any exposed towing mechanism, undercarriage or chassis.
M. The dwelling unit shall be constructed of conventional building materials and shall be aesthetically compatible in design and appearance with other dwellings within six hundred (600) feet. The review shall include but not necessarily be limited to: roof pitch, scale, size, mass, minimum transparency, orientation to the street, and overhangs. The foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit innovative design concepts involving such matters as (but not limited to) solar energy, view, or unique land contour.
N. The compatibility of design and appearance shall be determined in the first instance by the zoning administrator upon review of the plans submitted for a particular dwelling unit.
O. The dwelling unit shall contain no additions of rooms or other areas which are not constructed with similar quality workmanship as the original structure, including permanent attachment to the principal structure and construction of a foundation as required herein.
P. If the dwelling unit is a manufactured home, the manufactured home must either be new and certified by the manufacturer and/or appropriate inspection agency as meeting the Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, as amended, or any similar successor or replacement standards which may be promulgated, or used and certified by the manufacturer and/or appropriate inspection agency as meeting the standards referenced above, and found, on inspection by the building inspector or his designee, to be in excellent condition and safe and fit for residential occupancy.
Q. The dwelling unit shall comply with all applicable building, electrical, plumbing, fire, energy and other similar codes which are or may be adopted by the city, provided, however, that where a dwelling unit is required by law to comply with any federal or state standards or regulations for construction, and where such standards or regulations for construction are different than those imposed by city codes, then and in such event such federal or state standard or regulation shall apply. Appropriate evidence of compliance with such standards or regulations shall be provided to the building inspector.
R. All construction permitted herein shall be commenced only after a building permit has been obtained in accordance with the building code.
S. Each dwelling unit shall have an established vegetative ground cover no less than 12 months after occupancy. A minimum of one (1) shade tree, two and one-half (2½) inches in diameter, four (4) feet from the ground or one (1) six-foot evergreen tree shall be provided in the front yard. Existing landscaping may be accepted in lieu of this requirement.
Section 2. Severability and Captions. This Ordinance and the various parts, sections, subsections, sentences, phrases, and clauses thereof are hereby declared severable. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, phrase, or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. The captions included at the beginning of each Section are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of this Ordinance.
Section 3. Repeal. Any existing ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent or conflicts with this Ordinance is hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance is ordered to take effect seven (7) days following publication of adoption in the Daily News, a newspaper having general circulation in the City, under the provisions of 2006 Public Act 110, except as may be extended under the provisions of such Act.
B. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to continue the city’s partnership with the ICEA and authorize an investment of $5,000. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes -all. Steele recommended a future discussion to consider raising our investment amount with the ICEA.
C. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to join the Class Action Lawsuit regarding PFAS Litigation and sign the contract for legal Services with STAG LUIZZA, LLC as presented, as well as authorize Resolution No. 25-07-21 correlating with this matter.
City Manager Keven Krieger advised the council that he discussed this matter with the City Attorney (Varnum) and they recommended that the city join this Class Action suit and retain STAG LUIZZA, LLC for representation in this matter. The city only pays if they win. STAG LUIZZA, LLC would receive 30% of any amounts awarded. Well-known companies such as DuPont and M3 have been named as defendants in this lawsuit.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. (The Contract for Legal Services is on file in the Clerk’s Office). The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BELDING, COUNTY OF IONIA, MICHIGAN
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
RELATED TO THE AFFF PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION
WHEREAS, the City of Belding (the “City”) is committed to delivering clean drinking water to its customers; and
WHEREAS, the City is also committed to identifying parties responsible for increasing the costs of water treatment and system maintenance and taking reasonable steps to avoid passing on these costs to its consumers; and
WHEREAS, STAG LIUZZA, L.L.C., and the City of Belding have put together a team of uniquely qualified and experienced attorneys (“the Firm”) who have joined together to assist public entities facing the challenges posed by potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”); and
WHEREAS, the Firm is comprised of experienced attorneys in both in PFAS litigation and in the representation of public entities and water suppliers in cases involving cost recovery related to remediation of water contamination; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined it to be in the City’s best interest to enter into the Legal Services Agreement with the Firm and pursue any settlement and other legal damage claims it may have related to PFAS in Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Litigation MDL No. 2873; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to authorize the execution of the as Exhibit “A”; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that the Manager of the City of Belding is hereby authorized to execute the Legal Services’ Agreement with the Firm based upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and, in a manner, substantially similar to the Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit “A.”
F. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Events Application and the Special Event Committees recommendation’s as presented for Michigan Disc Golf Empire ((MDGE) to hold a memorial tournament at SMASH Park on October 18 and 19, 2025. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
G. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele to approve the Special Events Application and the Special Event Committees recommendation’s as presented for the Belding Labor Day Committee to hold the Annual Labor Day Celebration from August 29 through September 1, 2025. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
H. Moved by Steele, seconded by Zerkle to approve the 80x40 concrete and ramp quote for improvements to Leppink’s Skate Park in the amount of $27,200. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
I. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Cemetery Software and Mapping quote (Option 3), as presented, with the understanding that the company will come back to Belding to do thermal mapping of the Old Belding Cemetery. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
City Manager Keven Krieger commented on the following topics of interest:
· Police Officer vacancy filled this week by Cassidy Hiller
· Krieger had an infrastructure meeting regarding Crooks Street with John Bitely of Sable Homes
· The regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting has been moved back by one week to allow ample publication time for the Special Land Use Application filed by Taco Bell to allow a drive-thru.
· Nature’s Needs weeded and landscaped the city hall parking lot courtesy of a donation of funds by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
· 8 applications have been received for the vacant firefighter position. Interviews are planned to start Thursday.
· Audit starts next week
· Krieger and Hanna Samuels, Community Development Director, met with MDOT. Krieger advised that as far as he can recall, it has always been in question as to who owns the Pere Marquette Depot. MDOT assured Krieger and Samuels that the city owns the Depot. As the Dial-A-Ride services function out the Depot it is common for MDOT to allocate funds for upgrades and repairs to that location.
· Bridge Street temporarily closed between Washington and Congress to smooth asphalt. Bridge Street will be closed and redone in September, 2025.
Steele made closing comments.
Curtis made closing comments.
Zerkle made closing comments.
Gladding made closing comments.
Mayor Leary made closing comments.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk